AI Health Advice Leads to Serious Risks for Many Users, Study Finds

More people are turning to AI for health advice, but the results are often risky. A new study shows that while two-thirds of consumers have tried using generative AI chatbots for medical queries, many have faced serious consequences. Despite concerns, some still trust AI over human doctors for personal health guidance. Symptom-checking remains the most common use of AI in healthcare, with over 71% of users relying on it for this purpose. Around 66% of people have experimented with AI for health-related questions at least once. Yet, trust in the technology is uneven—only 65% bother to verify the sources behind AI-generated health responses.

The risks are clear. One in four users reported encountering a 'serious problem' after following AI health advice. Mental health queries posed even greater dangers, with over 40% of those seeking AI support experiencing serious issues. Overall, self-reported outcomes suggest that AI has caused more harm than good in health-related decisions. Despite the risks, some remain open to AI’s role in emergencies. About 27% would consider using it in a medical crisis. Meanwhile, nearly 30% say they would trust an AI system over a human doctor for personal health advice.

The findings highlight a growing reliance on AI for health queries, even as evidence of harm mounts. While many check sources and remain cautious, a significant number still trust AI over professional medical advice. The trend raises questions about how best to balance convenience with safety in digital healthcare.